larameekidd.com

I was checking out the blog for Beer Activist yesterday and there’s a link to a story on Philly.com about the use (or lack thereof) of refillable bottles.  The argument is made that we should go back to a system in which beer (and beverages in general) is sold in refillable bottles that can be returned for a deposit.  The argument is that this would be less costly and better for the environment.

Of course, to a homebrewer this sounds like a great idea.  In part, because I would not return the bottles and use them myself.  I have two questions though, that I would like to be able to answer about reusable bottles.

1. Why do big beer companies gain so much from using regular disposable bottles?
2. Why don’t small breweries do this?

The answer to both questions is the same, I think.  And it comes from the article.  The truth is that a bottle reuse program would make the breweries responsible for the entire life of the bottle.  Under the status quo, the system of manufacturing disposable bottles and then recycling them may actually be less efficient and have a greater cost than manufacturing and cleaning reusable bottles.  The reason why breweries, large and small, are big fans of the former is that the tax payer is picking up a large portion of the tab (the recycling program) thus making it cheaper for breweries than the alternative which is probably less costly in general.  So there you have it.  Your state recycling program is actually a subsidy for breweries.